Process for preparing phosphorothioates and phenylphosphonothioates

ABSTRACT

Mixtures of (1) a quaternary ammonium salt(s) and (2) 1,4diazabicyclo(2.2.2)octane are novel catalysts in the process of reacting an alkali metal phenate, pyridinate or pyrimidinate with an 0,0-dialkyl phosphorochloridothioate or 0-alkyl phenylphosphonochloridothioate to produce the corresponding phosphorothioates and phenylphosphonothioates. The process is conducted under alkaline conditions in a liquid reaction medium. As an example, 0,0-diethyl O-(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl)phosphorothioate is prepared in excellent yields and purity by reacting sodium 3,5,6-trichloropyridinate with 0,0-diethyl phosphorochloridothioate in a stirred methylene chloride-water reaction medium in the presence of a catalytic amount of benzyltriethylammonium chloride and 1,4diazabicyclo(2.2.2)octane.

United States Patent [191 Kroposki et al.

[ Sept. 23, 1975 I PROCESS FOR PREPARING 1 PHOSPHOROTHIOATES AND PHENYLPHOSPHONOTHIOATES [75] Inventors: Lorraine M. Kroposki, Walnut Creek, Calif.; Masao Yoshimine,

Midland, Mich.

[73] Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company,

Midland, Mich,

[22] Filed: May 21, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 361,937

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 187,139, Oct. 6,

1971, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl... 260/294.8 K; 260/250'R; 260/251 P; 260/465 F; 260/465 G; 260/465 H; 260/973;

260/297 P [51] Int. Cl. C07D 213/83 {58] Field of Search 260/294.8 K

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1966 Rigterink 260/294.8 K

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,227,144 4/1971 United Kingdom 260/454 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Roberts et al., Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry, Benjamin Publishers, Page 806, (1965), OD 251 R 58 C6.

Primary Examiner-Alan L. Rotman Attorney, Agent, or FirmL. Wayne White [57] ABSTRACT Mixtures of (l) a quaternary ammonium salt(s) and (2) 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2loctane are novel catalysts in the process of reacting an alkali metal phenate, pyridinate or pyrimidinate with an 0,0-dialkyl.

phosphorochloridothioate or O-alkyl phenylphosphon- 15 Claims, No Drawings 1 PROCESS FOR PREPARING PHOSPHOROTHIOATES AND PI-IENYLPHOSPI-IONOTHIOATES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of our U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 187,139 filed Oct. 6, l97l,-now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION wherein R represents halopyridyl, Z represents oxygen or sulfur and each R independently represents lower alkyloxy, amino or lower alkylamino. Rigterink disclosed several methods for preparing the compounds but his preferred method comprised reacting a phosphorochloridate or phosphorochloridothioate of Formula (II) with an alkali metal or tertiary amine salt of a halopyridinol having the formula R-O-alkali metal or R-OI-Ltertiary amine. The disclosed methods were carried out in an inert organic liquid under anhydrous conditions. In each of the disclosed processes an alkali metal chloride or the tertiary amine hydrochloride salt is produced as a reaction by-product which is removed by filtration. The disclosure of US. Pat. No. 3,244,586 is incorporated herein by reference.

Other phosphorothioates and phenylphosphonothioates have been similarly prepared and used. See, for example, the articles by O. Johnson in Chemical Week, pages 18-46 (26 July 1972) and by E. E. Kenaga and W. E. Allison in the Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America, Vol. 15, No. 2, pages 85-148 (June, 1969) which list many commercially available phosphorothioates and phenylphosphonothioates and which include US. Pat. Nos. pertaining to such compounds.

The phosphorothioates and phenylphosphonothioates referred to above and herein prepared correspond to the formula 5 s R-O--O-R R-o-i -c H (I II) (IV) R and R are each independently lower alkyl; and

R is (goo f -m (i io or l wherein:

n is O, 1, 2 or 3; and

X is nitro, cyano, halo (fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo, inclusive), lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkylthio or lower alkylsulfinyl, with the proviso that R does not bear more than one nitro group, lower alkylthio group or lower alkylsulfinyl group.

By lower alkyl is meant in all instances alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms (i.e., methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Wehave discovered that mixtures of (1) a quaternary ammonium salt(s) and (2) l ,4-

c diazabicyclo[2.2.21-octane (Le,

are novel catalysts in the process comprising reacting by contacting (a) an alkali metal phenate, pyridinate or pyrimidinate with (b) an 0,0-dialkyl phosphorochloridothioiate or an O-alkyl phenylphosphonochloridothioate to produce the corresponding phosphorothioates and phenylphosphonothioates. Our novel two-component catalyst represents a substantial process improvement over the prior art in that the reaction rate is higher and the desired products are obtained in extremely high yields and purity.

Essentially any compound from the known class of quaternary ammonium compounds can be used in the instant invention. Suitable quaternary ammonium salts have a minimum solubility of at least about 1 weight percent in the liquid reaction medium at 25C., and in the case of a 2phase reaction medium described below, suitable salts have a minimum solubility of at least about 1 weight percent in both the organic phase and the aqueous phase at 25C. The ammonium salts can be represented by the formula R 'R 'R R 'N A (VI), wherein Rf-R, are hydrocarbyl groups (e.g., alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, etc.) and R, can join with R to form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic compound having at least one quatemized nitrogen atom in the ring and may also contain one atom of nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur within the ring. Typically, Rfi-R, are hydrocarbyl groups of from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms. A is a neutralizing anion and may be varied to convenience. Chloride and bromide are the preferred anions, but other illustrative anions include fluoride, iodide, tosylate, acetate, bisulfate, etc. The following compounds are illustrative: tetra-alkyl ammonium salts, such as tetramethyl-, tetraethyl, tetra-butyl-, tetrahexyl-, methyltriethyl-, and trioctylmethyland tridecylmethyl-ammonium chlorides, bromides, iodides, bisulfates, tosylates, etc.; aralkylammonium salts, such as tetrabenzylammonium chloride, benzyltrimethyL, benzyl-triethyl-, benzyltributyl-, and phenethyltrimethylammonium chlorides, bromides, iodides, etc.; arylammonium salts, such as triphenylmethylammonium fluoride, chloride or bromide, N,N,N-trimethylanilinium chloride, N,N,N-triethylanilinium bromide, N,N-diethyl-N-ethylanilinium bisulfate, trimethylnaphthylammonium chloride, p-methylphenyltrimethylammonium chloride or tosylate, etc.; fiveand six-membered heterocyclic compounds containing at least one quatemized nitrogen atom in the ring, such as N,N,N',N-tetramethylpiperazinium dichloride, N-methylpyridinium chloride, N-hexylpyridinium iodide, 4-pyridyltrimethylammonium iodide, l-methyl-l-azoniabicyclo- [2.2.l]heptane bromide, N,N-dibutylmorpholinium chloride, N-ethylthiazolium chloride, N-butylpyrrolium chloride, etc., and other like compounds.

The preferred catalyst system is a mixture of (l) benzyltrimethylammonium chloride (or bromide) or benzyltriethylammonium chloride (or bromide) and (2) l,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, hereafter triethylenediamine. The most preferred catalyst system is a mixture of benzyltriethylammonium chloride and triethylenediamine.

The mole ratio of l to (2) can vary from about 1:20 to 20:1, but a mole ratio of about 1:2 to 2:1 is preferred in most instances.

The mixtures of l) and (2) are used in the process in small but catalytic amounts. For example, amounts from about 0.25 to about 20 mole percent, based on the reactants, are suitable but amounts of from about 0.5 to about 2 mole percent are generally preferred.

The reaction proceeds at a satisfactory rate at temperatures of from about C. up to about 100C. with a preferred rate being obtained at temperatures of about 4060C. The reaction pressure is not critical and generally atmospheric or superatmospheric pressures are used as a matter of convenience. Under the above conditions, reaction times of up to 8 hours are common although reaction times of from 0.25 to hours are generally sufficient for the reaction to be substantially complete.

The process is typically conducted in a liquid reaction medium as a convenient means of controlling the reaction temperature. The solvent may be an inert organic liquid such as methylene chloride (CH Cl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, toluene, cyclohexane, and other like chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents and hydrocarbon solvents. Alternatively, the process can be conducted in a two-phase solvent system comprising an inert, water-immiscible, organic liquid and water. The two-phase system is currently preferred phenates, pyridinates and pyrimidinates have an inverse water-solubilityas compared to the phosphorochloridothioates and phenylphosphonochloridothioates. The use of a two-phase solvent system would, therefore, be expected to slow the reaction by virtue of the fact that one reactant would be in the aqueous phase and the other'reactant would be in the organic phase and contact between the two reactants would, therefore, be lessened.

The process is conducted under alkaline conditions. Generally the pH of the water phase (when present) is in the range of from about 7 to about 13. Such conditions can be easily achieved by conventional methods, e.g., by conducting the process in the presence of caustic, or other base or by use of an appropriate buffer system.

Agitation (e.g., stirring, swirling, etc.) of the reaction mixture is advantageous, particularly when the process is conducted in the 2-phase liquid reaction medium.

THE REACTANTS The alkali metal phenates, pyridinates and pyrimidinates are known classes of compounds corresponding to the formulas M O H S- H O M wherein GD RO M and (VII) wherein R, and R are'each independently lower alkyl but are preferably methyl or ethyl.

Various phosphorothioates and phenylphosphonothioates can obviously be prepared by using various combinations of the above reactants. Representative and illustrative lists of suitable reactants and combinations thereof are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below:

because the by-product chloride is washed free from the reaction and is retained in the aqueous phase while the product is retained in the organic phase. A liquid mixture of methylene chloride and water represents the most preferred solvent mixture. The discovery that the process could be conducted in the presence of water without deleteriously affecting the product yield, etc., was most surprising since the phosphorochloridothioates and phenylphosphonochloridothioates are known to decompose in water. Furthermore, the alkali metal Table 1 (continued) H R -OPCl R-O M" R-o-P-o-R l R -o o-R Cl cu CH3 -c1 Na v C2H5 c 11 K CH3 01-1 Na cu c21 N02 Na (1 1-1 C2H5 .No Na .1 GL3 CH3 Q N02 1 I T CH3 CH3 -r.o K

CH CH3 s-cH Na L c 11 c 17 s, 011 Na o CZHS c n s-cn Na N CH-(CH3)2 v I K c n c n N Na c 11 CZHS CH3 CH3 @cu K Table 2 II C II -P-Cl R-(QM R-O-JP-C H l I R O o-R Cl CH3 @1315 Na C2H5 -NO2 K c 11 @cn Na The compounds of Formula (V) are prepared in like manner.

The following examples further illustratethe invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 0,0-Diethyl O-3,5,6-Trichloro-2-Pyridyl Phosphorothioate 0,0-Diethyl phosphorochloridothioate (11.3 g., 0.06 mole) was added dropwise to a stirred mixture of (1) sodium 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinate (13.2 g., 0.06 mole) in 30 ml. of methylene chloride and 74 ml. of water, (2) 1 mole percent triethylene diamine, (3) 1 mole percent benzyltriethylammonium chloride and (4) a pH bufier consisting of NaOH and sodium borate. The stirred reaction mixture was maintained at 42C. for 1.5 hours, cooled to room temperature, and the organic phase separated from the aqueous phase. The organic phase was washed once with approximately 30 ml. water and the organic solvent removed under reduced pressure. The title compound was thus obtained in 97 percent yield, based on 100 percent conversion of starting materials. The product was of excellent purity (approximately 99 percent pure).

EXAMPLES 2-3 The following examples were run under essentially the same procedure, reactants and process conditions as Example 1 except for the catalyst system and reac- 40 tion times. Results were:

The products of Examples 2 and 3 were likewise obtained in excellent purity.

EXAMPLES 4-5 gamgle \geactants Product DEPCT stands for 0,0-diethylphosphorochlorido- 5 thioate.

In this series of experiments the procedure and process conditions were substantially the same as in Example 1. However, here the reaction time was 3-4 hours and no boric acid was included in the reaction r nixture. Additionally, the catalyst level was lowered to""0.75 mole percent of triethylenediamine and 0.75 mole percent of benzyltriethylammonium chloride, based on combined starting materials. The products from Exam- 5 ples 4 and 5 were obtained in 92.1 and 93.1 percent yields, respectively.

. Other products can be similarly prepared by appropriate choice of reactants and by using the same catal lyst systems as in Examples 1-5 or by use of other catalyst mixtures as defined above.

We claim: 1. In the process of preparing a compound corresponding to the formula l R-O-EOR RO1 -C H O-R T s s v or R -O1?O-C H SC H Ol?Q-iR V f P i.

wherein:

R and R are each independently lower alkyljand wherein:

with (b) a compound corresponding to the formula wherein M is an alkali metal and R, R, and R have the 5 aforesaid meaning;

the improvement consisting of conducting the process in the presence of a small but catalytic amount of (1) a quaternary ammonium salt having a minimum solubility of at least 1 weight percent in the liquid reaction' medium at 25C and (2) 1,4- diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane. v r

- 2. The process defined in claim 1 wherein (1) is a quaternary ammonium salt of the formula R,'R R 'R.,N A*, wherein R 'R are each independently hydrocarbyl groups of from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, or R is joined with R to form a 5- or 6- membered heterocyclic ring wherein one'member of said heterocyclic ring is a quaternized nitrogen atom, a second member of said heterocyclic ring is an atom of carbon or a non-adjacent atom of nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, and the remaining members of said heterocy= clic ring are carbon atoms; and A is a neutralizing anion; said quaternary ammonium salt having a maximum carbon content of about 31 carbon atoms.

3. The process defined in claim 2 wherein (l) is benzyltrimethylammonium chloride or bromide, or benzyltriethylammonium chloride or bromide.

4. The process defined in claim 3 wherein (l) is benzyltriethylammonium chloride.

5. The process defined in claim 1 wherein the mole ratio of l) to (2) is from about 1:20 to about 20:1.

6. The process defined in claim 5 wherein said ratio is from about 1:2 to about 2:1. 1;

7. The process defined in claim 1 wherein the combined amount of (1) and .(2) is from about 0.25 to about 20 mole percent, based on the combined moles of (a) and (b).

8. The process defined in claim 7 wherein the com- 0 bined amount of (1 and (2)i s from about 0.5 to about 2 mole percent."

9. The process defined in claim 1 wherein said process is conducted in anagitated two-phase solvent system consisting of an inert water-immiscible organic liquid and water.

10. The process defined in claim 1 wherein R is 11. The process defined in claim R are methyl or ethyl.

12. The process defined by claim 10 wherein (1) is benzyltrimethylammonium chloride or bromide or benzyltriethylammonium chloride or bromide.

13. The process defined in claim 12 wherein (2) is benzyltriethylammonium chloride.

' 14. The process defined in claim 13 wherein said process is conducted in an agitated two-phase solvent system consisting of an inert water-immiscible organic liquid and water.

15. The process defined in claim 14 wherein (a) is sodium O-3,5,6-trich1oro-2-pyridinate and (b) is 0,0- diethyl phosphorochloridothioate; said two-phase solvent system is a niixture of methylene'chloride and water; and the reaction temperature is from about 40 to about C. I

10 wherein R, and

PATENT NO.

DATED INV ENTOR(S) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,907,815 September 23,

Lorraine M. Kroposki and Masao Yoshimine are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title page, column 2:

Column Column Column Column Column Column [SEAL] "3,5,6-trichl line 40, Claim 10,

formula.

line 2:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer R is should be inserted before the oropyridinate with 0,0- oro-" should read (3,5,6 yridyl)phosphorothioate is ld read -patents-.

e" should read chlorido ra-butyl, should read etrabutyl,.

should read -zyltriethyl-,.

should be deleted.

Signed and Scaled this Sixth Day of July 1976 C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner nfParenls and Trademarks 

1. IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING A COMPOUND CORRESPONDING TO THE FORMULA
 2. The process defined in claim 1 wherein (1) is a quaternary ammonium salt of the formula R1''R2''R3''R4''N A , wherein R1''-R4'' are each independently hydrocarbyl groups of from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, or R1'' is joined with R2'' to form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring wherein one member of said heterocyclic ring is a quaternized nitrogen atom, a second member of said heterocyclic ring is an atom of carbon or a non-adjacent atom of nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, and the remaining members of said heterocyclic ring are carbon atoms; and A is a neutralizing anion; said quaternary ammonium salt having a maximum carbon content of about 31 carbon atoms.
 3. The process defined in claim 2 wherein (1) is benzyltrimethylammonium chloride or bromide, or benzyltriethylammonium chloride or bromide.
 4. The process defined in claim 3 wherein (1) is benzyltriethylammonium chloride.
 5. The process defined in claim 1 wherein the mole ratio of (1) to (2) is from about 1:20 to about 20:1.
 6. The process defined in claim 5 wherein said ratio is from about 1:2 to about 2:1.
 7. The process defined in claim 1 wherein the combined amount of (1) and (2) is from about 0.25 to about 20 mole percent, based on the combined moles of (a) and (b).
 8. The process defined in claim 7 wherein the combined amount of (1) and (2) is from about 0.5 to about 2 mole percent.
 9. The process defined in claim 1 wherein said process is conducted in an agitated two-phase solvent system consisting of an inert water-immiscible organic liquid and water.
 10. The process defined in claim 1 wherein R is
 11. The process defined in claim 10 wherein R1 and R2 are methyl or ethyl.
 12. The process defined by claim 10 wherein (1) is benzyltrimethylammonium chloride or bromide or benzyltriethylammonium chloride or bromide.
 13. The process defined in claim 12 wherein (2) is benzyltriethylammonium chloride.
 14. The process defined in claim 13 wherein said process is conducted in an agitated two-phase solvent system consisting of an inert water-immiscible organic liquid and water.
 15. The process defined in claim 14 wherein (a) is sodium O-3,5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinate and (b) is O,O-diethyl phosphorochloridothioate; said two-phase solvent system is a mixture of methylene chloride and water; and the reaction temperature is from about 40* to about 60*C. 